Update

[28/07, 7:57 pm] Jeniriya: Scrubs and body polish A scrub or body polish is a spa treatment which exfoliates the skin on your body leaving it feeling fresh, smooth, moisturised and soft. An abrasive product is rubbed vigorously, and massaged across and into your skin, and is then rinsed away to reveal a moisturised layer of fresh, clean and smooth skin. What is a scrub good for? There are many benefits to a body scrub or polish. A body scrub will exfoliate your skin, sloughing off dead skin cells and rubbing away hard and flaky skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth. Scrub or polishing products usually include an oily base which moisturises and soothes your skin as it is scrubbed. A scrub can be really invigorating as well, and improve the circulation of blood and lymph to the surface of the skin, helping to fight cellulite and improve your skin tone. A good body scrub or polish forms the basis of other body treatments it prepares your skin for an even tan it opens the pores and wakens the skin before a wrap or mud treatment the oils used can relax or stimulate your senses ready for any similarly-focused treatment that you might be having afterwards. Scrub and Candle Before you go There's nothing to do before you go except have a shower. This is really just courtesy for your therapist! You will be able to keep your knickers on, and they may give you disposable pants. Precautions Scrubs and body polishes are suitable and safe for just about everyone. It's not an invasive treatment, and doesn't involve you assuming any odd positions. You should not have a scrub if you have cancer or if you have a fever. You should also seek expert advice if you are allergic to anything or have a skin condition of any kind. Anyone with fragile, broken or sunburnt skin is well advised to skip this treatment as well, as a very vigorous scrub may hurt more than heal, however this is really something that a good therapist will take into account. Some conditions make some products, and some kinds of scrub a bad idea for you. As with all spa treatments, make sure you are clear about any medical condition you have, or treatment you are receiving, so that you can be sure of a treatment that is safe and appropriate for you. Scrubs and Body polishes What to expect when you have a scrub or body polish Different spas have different facilities, and so give scrubs in a slightly different way. It is usual to have it lying down, and if you're lucky on a heated plinth or table to keep you warm while you have your treatment. The table or plinth will get wet during the treatment as the product is washed off your body. The therapist should screen you discreetly, or leave you for a few minutes while you take off your robe and lie down between towels already laid out for you on the table. Somehow, despite the fact that they scrub and wash your whole body, you'll be almost entirely covered for the whole treatment, as towels are expertly rolled and folded to maintain your dignity. Before the treatment begins, the therapist may ask you what kind of product you prefer, giving you a choice of smells or asking whether you want to feel relaxed or revitalised by the body scrub. They should also tell you something about the product and procedure so that you know what's going to happen. The scrub will usually start with one side of your back, and the product will be swept up and down your body simultaneously - this is really invigorating. The therapist will then work across your body, rubbing, scrubbing and massaging one area at a time, and then rinsing you off with warm soft water and covering you with a towel before moving on to the next part. At the end of the treatment you should be left to have a good shower to get rid of any remains of the product. The treatment usually takes about 30 minutes. Body scrubs Afterwards A body scrub is a great treatment as it makes you look and feel good. After a good body scrub, your skin should feel really soft, smooth and silky; you should feel pampered and energised. It's a great one-stop treatment as well as fitting in well with others, as part of a spa ritual or spa package. Hot tip! A body scrub is one of the treatments that you can recreate something of at home - whilst it won't be such an indulgent experience, a body scrub is something that you can really enjoy as part of a long luxurious home pamper, and is great for your skin. Different types of scrub While there may be variations in how the scrub is given, the main difference between scrubs is usually just the product used. Salt and oil: finely granulated salt is mixed with an essential, moisturising oil. The salt might be sea or mineral Sugar is also used, mixed with oils or creams Loofah: some body scrubs use cream and a loofah to slough off dead skin cells Herbal: a therapist may mix a herbal oil with the exfoliating scrub, such as rosemary, lavender or aloe vera, depending on your skin type and whether the scrub is designed to wake you up or relax you Fruit (edible!): some body scrubs mix crushed seeds with fruit oils, oatmeal and other edible products to nourish and soothe the skin [28/07, 8:27 pm] Jeniriya: Wraps A wrap is a nourishing cocoon designed to slim and tone your body, hydrate, cleanse or heal your skin, or relax and soothe your muscles. What is a wrap good for? Body wraps combine therapeutic masks — herbal pastes, mineral-rich muds or soothing creams — with thermal coverings. The body mask will contain a mixture of ingredients designed to have a remedial effect on your skin, while the coverings will swathe and warm your body, promoting muscle relaxation, and sweating to cleanse your pores. Most spas use a few core adjectives to describe their body wrap treatments: slimming, detoxifying, relaxing and hydrating are favourites. Depending on the wrap you choose, you might notice: temporary inch loss softer, firmer, hydrated or cleansed skin relaxed muscles. Weight-loss wraps do not make you lose weight, but they may make you temporarily slimmer. Although any initial inch loss will sadly disappear once you drink some water, the wrap experience might just provide the motivation you need to start a healthier diet or fitness programme. Some wraps are designed to relieve tired or heavy legs and aching joints, and ease inflammation, and may be offered as a treatment for your lower body only. Wraps What to expect from a wrap You'll undress or change into your paper knickers in privacy. Spa therapists are great at preserving their clients' modesty. Next, you might be treated to a gentle exfoliation or scrub to slough away any dead skin cells. Sometimes body wraps work best when the skin is slightly damp, so your therapist may ask you to take a quick shower, or use warmed, damp flannels on your skin. If the wrap promises inch loss, you'll be measured at various points around your body first, too. Once your skin has been prepped, your therapist will apply a therapeutic body mask to your torso, and your arms and legs. The content of the mask used depends on the treatment you have chosen. Mud and clay, algae and seaweed, and herbal pastes are common, but fresh fruit, aloe vera or paraffin wax are not unheard of, either. Many spas have their own signature body wraps, from the exotic to the just plain edible. Could you spend an hour coated in chocolate or honey without being tempted to lick...? After applying the mask to most of your body, your therapist will swaddle you in a plastic sheet and towels, or a thermal blanket, and leave you to rest for around 20 to 40 minutes. If you're having a detoxifying or slimming wrap, you may be wrapped tightly in bandages soaked in a therapeutic solution instead of a warm blanket. The heat of the wrap will relax your muscles, open your pores and encourage sweating. So, to keep you comfortable, you might have a cold compress placed gently on your forehead. When you're freed from your cocoon, don't expect an immediate butterfly-like transformation. You might feel quite cold and soggy at first without your thermal blanket -- so the shower afterwards will be welcome. You can scrub away any remaining algae, mud or clay before your therapist massages moisturiser into your newly baby-soft skin. Mud wrap Different kinds of wrap Algae: Your therapist applies warmed mineral-rich algae to your body to help nourish and detoxify your skin. The algae comes in the form of a pungent thick paste. Bust wrap: The aim is to firm and soften the skin. It can be especially good for women trying to tone up after breastfeeding or weight loss. Cellulite: Designed to boost circulation and flush out toxins, this wrap focuses on bums, tums and/or thighs. Clay or mud: A layer of soothing clay or mud is applied to the skin to detoxify, cleanse and firm. The mud is thought to ease water retention and cleanse the pores by drawing out impurities. A mud wrap might help with arthritis, rheumatism and minor skin irritations. A mud wrap can feel a bit clammy when it is first applied but soon cocoons you in warmth. Dry floatation wrap: This is any sort of wrap carried out on a mattress filled with warm water. Some people find the sensation of weightlessness deeply relaxing; this treatment offers the relaxing benefits of wet floatation without having to get into a floatation tank. Frigi-thalgo: A cold wrap treatment by French spa brand Thalgo, this wrap is designed to control excess fluid in the hip, leg and thigh areas. Frigi-thalgo can provide relief for tired legs as the coldness of the wrap stimulates circulatory changes. Herbal: Herbs and spices, and herbal essential oils, are often used in wraps for their therapeutic qualities. You may find lavender in a calming or healing wrap, for example. In Ayurvedic treatments, herbs are often ground into a thick, gritty paste that also exfoliates as it is rubbed onto the skin. Occasionally, pieces of cloth are soaked in herb-infused oils and layered over your body to form a wrap. Paraffin: Melted paraffin wax is brushed over your body and left to solidify. The wax seals moisture in for a softening effect. A paraffin wrap is thought to reduce muscle and joint aches and soothe symptoms of arthritis. It's great for skin in need of intense moisturising. Parafango: "Fango" is the Italian word for mud. This treatment uses a warmed paraffin and mud mixture to create a mini-sauna effect, stimulating the lymphatic flow in your body and drawing out toxins. Thalasso or seaweed: Your body is slathered in warm seaweed before you are wrapped in a warm covering. This concentration of seawater and seaweed comes in a thick paste, and doesn't always smell great, it must be said, but its effects are palpable -- it hydrates and firms the skin, and leaves it tingly-fresh. Hot tip! Being all wrapped up in thermal blankets can feel very strange if you're unable to drift off to sleep. Ask your therapist if there is a choice of music, or ask the spa if you can take your own music to play in your treatment room. It's much easier to relax if you're listening to music that you find soothing. (Spa panpipes don't do it for everyone.)